Question from a new board member

[TrooperOne]

Hi everybody,

I am new to this board after following it for so many years (yes that's right). But since the sellout has begun I have to ask some serious questions about the future of this franchise.

Maybe just a little bit about me: I am from Bavaria, thats a state in Germany and Germany is in Europe - the largest country on the continent population-wise, for those who dont know (when I worked in NY last year I was shocked how many didnt know). I am a die-hard US Sports fan and follow the Nets since KVH tried to be the PF everybody thought he could be. When Kmart-Kidd-Kittles-RJ ruled in the East, I stayed up until the early morning, just to watch the playoffs. My conviction still is, that if the Nets would have had a center (no harm to Collins, but sorry) we could have been 2 time champions. But thats another story.
Also I love NFL and NHL and follow NY/NJ based teams regularily. In general, sorry for wrong spelllings and grammar, I am no English native.

Now the topic, that is really concerning me:

Do you guys really believe selling out now will automatically mean we can start through in 2010 just based on the hope to get one of the 3 FA?

I seriosly doubt that and I see the Nets falling back into meaninglessness for decades after switching to this "cap-space-philosphy". I mean: how many teams were trying to to this? Grizzly-Hornets-Warriors-Clippers... This never works out. Not only in the NBA but in other sports, too. Do you really believe Lebron will come to the Nets just because he is a buddy from Jay-Z and can play with Lopez and a top 5 PG? Same for Wade and he is not even close to LBJ. And Chris Bosh, sorry but this guy will never ever win a championship for any team if there are not at least 2 other pieces.

I have the strong feeling all these 3 guys will avoid the Nets in 2010. Consequence: we will overpay for mediocore PFs which we trade for draft picks in 2011. If the East stays like it is, we can fight for 8th playoff spot for some years, but thats it. All in all I really see the Nets becoming the Clippers of the East.

Everybody knows Thorn is nearly a genious (and lucky somehow), but does he really believe weeding out all talent will get us a franchise player? I will tell you what: Lebron will burn us and sign with a contender right away who already has an HoF-er. Or he stays in Cle.

And hoping we will be the worst team this season in order to get the No.1 draft pick is just a pipe dream. We are still in the East which means good enough for 20 wins, and playing bad with purpose destroys fanbase too. And a No.1 draft pick wont pay out in the first year, if its not the next MJ or Kobe. Also: you only can develop rookies if there is a solid player-base. Its nice to draw comparisons to championship-teams. But dont forget: all these players developed because they already had one franchise player (e.g. TD). Manu or Parker in Clipper- or Warrior-land would never be what they are now.

I am very concerned about giving away all talent we have (and still fuming about giving away Anderson). All just in hope to get one or two players, when only one of them a true game-changer and he will burn us in in the very first second.

I think the best way would be signing an established PF (Stoudamire, Boozer) which helps Lopez to develop and takes the load off from all these rooks. But right now, letting the show run through Lopez and Harris will see them getting frustrated and it will be painful to watch, too.

[vincecarter4pres]

First off, welcome to the board and good to have you here.

I'll just touch briefly on some of your points.
1st, I used to agree that 2010 FA was a pipe dream, but I am starting to think a little differently, although I still hold true that if we don't get one of the big 3, we won't overpay for anyone, with maybe the exception of Boozer or Joe Johnson or depending on who and where we draft, throwing a big offer at a RFA, someone like LaMarcus Aldridge.

2nd, although it's going to be a little hard to watch at times, there is nothing wrong with rebuiding through the draft and building around Brook and Devin. We might be bad for a couple more seasons, but we have some of the better youth in the league, similar to the Blazers a couple seasons ago. They aren't all going to pan out, but we have enough that have shown some real promise that we should be OK. We get a high pick next year and we can add another piece, hopefully Greg Monroe or Evan Turner.

3rd, always remember, Rod Thorn owns all in this league through trades. We have the prospects, cap space and useful expirings to make a move now, later this season or in a year or so. There will always be a player on the block that makes you say, "Really? Wow, he's asking for a trade?", or, "Wow, that team is in dire financial straits, I bet (fill in the blank) gets traded.", so even if we can't get a big time FA or we're just treading water, things can turn around in a heartbeat and honestly, this is the most likely type of team to be able to and to actually make that move.
Just to throw out an example, and this is just that, an example that is highly unlikely, but imagine Chris Paul demands a trade?!
Honestly, is there a team in the entire league that could offer a better package then us and still field a competitive if not contending team after the trade?
Again, just using CP3 as an unlikely example, but what team could offer a better package then Devin Harris, a bunch of draft picks, one of our 3 wing prospects and immediate raw cap space for Chris Paul and one of NOH's horrid contracts such as Mo Pete or Peja?
Really no one but maybe Chicago if they offered Rose and filler, but they wouldn't have much of a team to put around him.
Possibly OKC if they gave up Westbrook and Green, but is New Orleans going to want to deal him West for a package no better then what we offer?
That's just one example, but the point is there is always a superstar or 2 that winds up on the trading block and we will be in prime position to nab that guy if we so desire.

4th, you mention how teams had franchise guys like TD, but then you also mention the draft not being too much help, but that's exactly where TD came from, the draft.
I see what you're saying and I know it's easy to get pessimistic, but don't throw us under the bus and call us the Clippers or Warriors of the East!
We're a much better run organization then that and we already have some exciting young pieces and a near franchise point guard.

5th, I agree, I am still pissed we shipped out Anderson in the Carter deal. I seem to be a lot higher on him than most, but I really saw something special in that kid, Rashard Lewis like potential, Rodney Rogers at worst. I;ll get over it of he turns out to be like Rodney, because even though he was an awesome player, he's not impossible to replace, but if he turns into a Rahsard Lewis minus the herrendous overpay, I am going to be pissed. Sigh...

BTW, no need for the apology for your grammar or English, it's better then probably 50% of the American posters, or the posters whose primary language is English.

Anyway, good having you on the board.

[Da big3]

welcome aboard...

[ecuhus1981]

Way to get the ball rolling, TO.

LeTravalier himself may be a pipe dream, but if we whiff on him we still WILL add an impact player next summer, and probably an All-Star. Slogging through a rough developmental period this year is the penance we will have to pay for the future success that is sure to come.

[TrooperOne]

Sorry, if I made the impression that we are the Clippers of the East organization-wise. Thats certainly not the case. Thorn really turned this franchise around and he is one of the most respected exec in this league. Without our organization, I wouldnt be a Nets fan any more.

But from a "being competitive" point of view and the outlook of missing out on a top 10 player I am really concerned we will be sort of Clippers for the next 5 years: Fighting for the 8th playoff spot one season, hoping for the lottery the year afterwards, signing a decent PF (who gets injured,) then building through youth again etc. Plus l always have the impression, teams tend to over-estimate their prospects. Unfortunately I cant watch all the Nets games, but from what I see I dont think there is - with the exception of Lopez and mybe Lee - a guy who would attract other teams seriously to pull a trade for a top 10 player.

But of course, its always good to be optimistic and be able to watch some years of rebuilding.

BTW another question: Why did Kerry Kittles retire? Because of injuries? He was such an important part of the team and suddenly he was gone.

[treiz]

Yes I believe it was because of injuries. But, we did trade him to the Clippers for a 2nd round pick.

[SteveNets15]

The Clippers decided to make the playoffs that year of course.I thought we got a 1st round pick from them.

[TrooperOne]

Did anyone like this guy?

There were never stories of him, although he played for so many years. With Kidd coming in he was a perfect piece. Then he got traded and retired and gone.

[vincecarter4pres]

Kittles was nice on sliced rye.
One of my favorite college players and a was a hell of a player for the Nets as well. Wasn't much for creating his own shot, but he played excellent defense, could just bomb it from downtown and got out on the break and finished, whether in the lane or from the wing.

[Preludepunk27]

Kittles was nice on sliced rye.
One of my favorite college players and a was a hell of a player for the Nets as well. Wasn't much for creating his own shot, but he played excellent defense, could just bomb it from downtown and got out on the break and finished, whether in the lane or from the wing.

He was Rip before it was cool to have an offense with a guy running around like Rip did. Now half the teams in the league seem to have a guy that when he's on the court just runs off of picks the ENTIRE time. Kittles was a solid player. He actually wasn't too bad defensively which people forget about.

[Rich Rane]

Good stuff, TrooperOne. Of course you did shoot yourself in the foot here. If your future posts aren't anything near as great as your posts here, you'll be shunned forever. Welcome aboard.